Civilian employees working again

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE Of the more than 350 civilian employees who went back to work at Minot Air Force Base Monday after being furloughed due to the government shutdown, a few with noncritical positions have returned to furlough, say Minot AFB officials.

Capt. Jeff Nagan, chief of base Public Affairs, and Kiley Swopes, chief of social media with Public Affairs, said those who went back on furlough reported to work Monday. On Wednesday, they were put back on furlough after a review of those services. Those who returned to furlough have positions with the base library, indoor pool and auto hobby shop.

1st Lt. Jose Davis, deputy chief of Public Affairs at the Minot base, said 359 employees were recalled Sunday and returned to work on Monday.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced during the past weekend that most Defense Department civilians placed on the emergency furlough during the government shutdown were being asked to return to work this week.

Of the total 476 civilian employees at the Minot base who are paid by federally appropriated funds, 117 were excepted from the Oct. 1-6 furlough, he said.

The missions at Minot AFB, a base with B-52s and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, continues despite the government shutdown. However, some services were suspended and delayed, especially while the civilian employees were on furlough.

A few services continue to be suspended, including tuition assistance and promotion testing until a budget is passed, base officials said.

There are still noncritical positions at other bases that will remain on furlough until the budget is passed.

For information about Air Force furlough-related pay, visit: (http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/467265/af-releases-furlough-related-pay-infor mation.aspx).